Chemical waste explodes, creates panic

BANGALORE: Tension prevailed near Mico Factory in Adugodi following an explosion of chemical waste on Saturday evening. The police have arrested two persons in connection with the incident.According to the police, three persons, working at a marble polishing factory in Adugodi, threw covers which contained chemical used in marble polishing, in a storm water drain in front of Govardhan Motors. The drain is located next to Mico factory on Adugodi Link Road. As they threw the covers, the chemicals exploded creating a huge sound. Some of the employees of Mico factory, who were staging a protest in front of the factory, rushed to the spot and caught Mruthyunjaya Upadhyay and Mosin, who had come to throw the cover, while the other escaped. The police were informed about the incident.“We arrested the duo and when enquired they informed that they were working for a marble polishing factory. They had come to a marble factory for polishing work near Mico factory signal. After the work, they had disposed the chemical in the drain but accidentally it exploded,” the police added.The duo have been booked for negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter endangering human lives. But no case has been registered against them under the explosive substances act, the police informed.Following the incident, bomb squad, sniffer squad and forensic science experts were pressed into service. Meanwhile, the police have issued notice to all marble factories in the area to dispose chemicals with proper safety measures and not to throw them in public places.The Adugodi police have registered a case and are investigating. It may be recalled here that on Tuesday night, Vincent, a labourer of a marble factory was severely injured following an explosion caused by chemicals in Ranga Dasappa Layout in Adugodi area.